The Winters Park men took the field at Huddersfield knowing they were facing a stern physical test, in the home game back in October Huddersfield had mounted a late comeback in the second half and given Penrith a real battering.
If Penrith had started this away game like they have two or three others this season, they would have been buried early on, they ddid what they had to and came out firing on all cylinders. The home side made a feisty start and to a man the defensive line held firm, flanker Tom Lindsay and centre Matt Allinson were to the fore and were knocking lumps out of their opposite numbers.
They didn't allow the home side to settle and it was the Cumbrians who were playing all the rugby, the Yorkshire side were playing with a strong wind at their backs but it was the visitors who were bossing the game territorially and their forwards who were threatening the home line. They looked to be driving a maul over the line when it was broken up and the chance looked to have gone, Liam Tunstall tidied up and set the forwards rolling again, after a series of pick and goes Dan Richardson did well to force his way over for a well taken try and Allinson hit the conversion over into the wind.
If Penrith could be faulted at all it was their discipline, they gave away too many penalties and this allowed the home side to keep in the game with long touch finders to the visitor's 22, without Penrith's indiscretions they would have struggled to make headway with ball in hand
Huddersfield got back into the game with another penalty, this time head on to the posts on the 22 which they put over to reduce the Penrith lead to four points.
As the first half drew to a close the home side realised it was now or never if they were going to have a realistic chance of winning the game, they had to get their noses in front while they still had the elements in their favour. They mounted an assault on the Penrith line and the Cumbrians were defending for all they were worth. They were reduced to 14 men by a yellow card, coach David Preston sent on James Hogg and pulled off winger Jonny Wills so he still had eight forwards on the field to see the half out, his judgement was spot on as Penrith held on, perhaps with the aid of an odd home knock on or two but mainly down to the determined, rugged defence.
Penrith turned around with a slim 7-3 advantage but without the wind in second period the home side looked a lot less effective, the visitors put two scores between the sides within five minutes. Jamie McNaughton had had mainly defensive duties to this point but now provided a bit of magic to get in behind the home defence. He was put away down the short side on the right wing and deftly chipped his winger, taking his own kick he looked to round the fullback but was brought down. The ball was quickly recycled and came to Mike Raine who made yards and almost broke the last line of defence but Allinson was on his shoulder to finish the move off, his conversion put the visitors 11 points clear.
Huddersfield came back and tried to force their way over the visitor's line through their forwards but Tunstall who was having a busy afternoon robbed them of the ball Brad Taylor and McNaughton took play to half way and the danger was over.
The Cumbrians had traveled short of one or two of their usual front row forwards, Craig Price and Lee Chapman were recalled to the side and they performed as if they had been there all season. Between them they didn't miss a lineout and they were instrumental in the next try as the Penrith eight shunted the home pack off their own ball. Raine raced away from No8, George Graham then set Bruce Spencer on the left wing away and be made it to the corner, he couldn't quite make the line but the support arrived and the forwards mounted drive after drive at the home line from close quarters. It was Ryan Johnson making his 250th appearance for the club who eventually went over and his day was only going to get better.
Huddersfield were penalised on their 22 in the middle of the field and Penrith opted for the scrum, Raine and Graham broke from the scrum and took play to the home line and again it was Johnson who finished the attack off with his second try and his side's bonus point try.
There was then a score for Huddersfield as they attemped to force their way past the visitor's forwards, the Penrith line held firm but at the cost of a penalty, this was taken quickly and caught the defenders on the hop for a soft try.
Normal service was resumed as Penrith finished with a try, with Raine now off the pitch Johnson had moved to No8 and he and Graham looked to put McNaughton in at the corner. The would be scoring pass went forward and into touch. The home side had the choice of a lineout or scrum and took the scrum. Not for the first time they were shunted off their own ball and Johnson claimed his hat trick try at the back of the scrum as the the home eight were forced over their own line.
Penrith were delighted with their win and it was the nature of the performance pleased the coaching staff, if they continue to travel in this vein it will be an interesting finish to the season.